Throwing Thunder: U20s Unleash their Power
Matthew Uliana proved to be a dominant force in the throws, winning both the discus with a mark of 52.12m and the hammer throw with a remarkable 70.81m, 5 meters further than second place. Mason Andulajevic rounded out the podium, placing third with 62.68m, Deven Marrero of the Kajaks placed 4th with 59.24m and Michael Ogbeiwi placed 5th with 56.12m.In the shot put, Uliana secured a silver medal with a distance of 16.39m. Connor Hengstler of the Nanaimo & District Track and Field Club also performed admirably, finishing 4th in the discus with a distance of 48.15m and 7th in the shot put with a mark of 13.38m.
In the javelin, Martynas Bajarunas claimed the silver medal with a distance of 56.65m. Kayden U-Ming, Riley Malkoske, and Marrero secured the 4th, 5th, and 6th positions, respectively, with marks of 55.84m, 51.38m, and 51.05m.
In the women's discus, Cathlene Van Zyl threw the 3rd farthest throw with a mark of 40.16m, while Keerat Dhillon finished 4th with a distance of 38.27m. Lauren Friesen of the Kajaks won the hammer throw with an impressive mark of 52.31m, while Lauren Curtis, Dhillon, Isabella Hall, and Elise Drake showcased their talent, finishing 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th, respectively. Gurleen Mander rounded out the top 9 with a throw of 46.42m. As for the javelin, Erika Burry secured 6th place with a distance of 38.20m, followed by Akira Munro in 7th place with 37.46m and Liepa Bajarunas in 8th place with 35.17m.
Jumping with Joy: U20 Stars Soar to New Heights
In the men's high jump, Alec Brent of the Vancouver Thunderbirds claimed victory, soaring over 2m with a jump of 2.02m. Levi Tuura, Cesare Rednour-Bruckman, and Caidyn Maver secured the 5th, 7th, and 8th positions, respectively, with jumps of 1.95m and 1.89m.
On the women's side, Isla Stewart jumped 1.70m, securing a 3rd place finish, while Marlena Tresnjo placed 4th with a jump of 1.67m. Bridgette Hansen rounded out the top 8 with a jump of 1.58m.
Aidan Turner demonstrated his prowess in the long jump, becoming the national champion with a mark of 7.06m. Lyle Lo secured 4th place with a jump of 6.82m. Turner also participated in the pole vault, finishing 6th with a height of 4.25m. Divine Aniamaka, the BC High School Champion and BC Jamboree Champion, became the Canadian National Champion in the triple jump with an impressive mark of 15.17m. Lyle Lo also placed 4th, with a jump of 14.61m.
In the women's long jump, Jasleen Nagra secured 6th place with a jump of 5.54m. In the triple jump, Kerlinda Chatwin secured 4th place with a distance of 11.43m, while Sofia Varma-Vitug finished 6th with a jump of 11.21m. In the pole vault, Mackenzie Hurtubise claimed the silver medal with a height of 3.82m.
All-Around Glory: Magic of the Multis
In the multi-events, Madison Gordon put up an exceptional performance, securing silver with a total score of 5414 points. Her marks throughout the competition are as follows: 100m hurdles (15.51), 200m (27.02), 800m (2:36.63), high jump (1.61m), javelin (27.42m), long jump (5.51m), shot put (10.14m).
That's a Wrap
The 2023 Bell Canadian Track & Field Championships U20 category witnessed incredible athleticism and talent, with BC athletes making their mark on the national stage. These young athletes have undoubtedly showcased their potential and promise a bright future for Canadian track and field.
A big thank you goes out to all that made the championships possible and we can't wait to do it all again next year in Montreal and for photos from the meet click here!